Rules/FAQ-Park City - Table Read My Screenplay

FAQ's
Rules

Q: When are the deadlines?
A: Early Deadline - Oct 22, 2019 / Final Deadline - Nov 28, 2019

Q: When are the announcement dates?
A: Semi-Finalists - Dec 17, 2019 / Grand Prize & Top 10 - Jan 2, 2020

Q: How do I enter?
A: Complete the form on the SUBMIT ENTRY page.

Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: Paypal and all major credit cards.

Q: Can I mail a copy of my Screenplay, Submission Form and Payment?
A: No, we’re sorry. We only accept online submissions and payments at this time.

Q: Should I include my contact information on my title page?
A: Yes, but it does not affect judging either way if you forget to include it.

Q: Who will be reading my screenplay/judging the contest?
A: The final panel of judges will be comprised of members of the Los Angeles Film Community, including but not limited to producers, managers and established writers.

Q: Will you fly me to Park City, UT if I win?
A: The Feature/Pilot Grand Prize winner will receive coach airfare and accommodations resulting in a three-night stay. The Short Grand Prize winner will receive cash, which can be put toward airfare if they wish to attend, but TRMS will not book the flight for the short winner.

Q: When will the Table Read be scheduled for the Feature/Pilot Winner?
A: The Feature / Pilot showcase reading will be during the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020. If the final date as selected by TRMS does not work for the winner, TRMS will not provide any cash value matching for the non-accepted airfare and hotel, or movie ticket expenses turned down by the winner. We will be as flexible as possible, but the ultimate decision resides solely with TRMS.

Q: Can we pass the Sundance Film Festival tickets on to someone else?
A. No, the film tickets are forfeited if you decide not to attend the festival.

Q: Is this contest affiliated with the Sundance Film Festival?
A: TRMS is not affiliated with the Sundance Film Festival.

Q: How will I, as the Feature/Pilot Grand Prize Winner, participate in the Table Read?
A: You sit back, relax, and observe as a director works scenes from your winning screenplay with the actors in preparation for the showcase of your first 20 pages. We will also do a full table read of your script. There you can take a few notes of what's working and what might need some tweaking. We encourage you to watch the process rather than reading off the script because you will get to listen again when you receive the recording.

Q: Does the Shorts Prize Winner receive a Table Read?
A: The Shorts Winner will receive a live recording of their Table Read, which will be posted on ISA’s Curious About Screenwriting Network and provided to the ISA’s list of Industry Professionals.

Q: Do I maintain the rights to my screenplay?
A: YES, you retain all the rights to your screenplay. Table Read My Screenplay seeks to support and empower writers, rather than claim their hard work for ourselves. If we select your script for recognition, you agree to grant us the right to hold a live Table Read and promote your success, but the script itself is still yours.

Q: Do I need to submit a Synopsis?
A: Synopses are not required, and are not considered during the judging process.

Q: Can I submit a screenplay under a pen name?
A: Yes, you may use whatever name you wish, understanding that this is the name TRMS and the ISA will use to promote your script, should you win.

Q: Does my screenplay have to be registered with the Writers’ Guild or another organization?
A: No, but we do recommend registering your work with the WGA West, the Library of Congress Copyright office or other similar organization in your country. It’s really easy and a VERY smart thing to do.

Q: Is an adaptation of a published novel or other work written by someone else eligible?
A: You must have the legal rights to adapt the book to enter your screenplay. Either the original work must be in the public domain, or you must have the author’s permission to adapt it. Spec scripts without written permission will not be considered.

Q: Can I send you a revised copy of my script?
A: Once we have received your entry, you have 24 hours to contact us about any replacements you need to make. After the 24-hour period is through, NO script revisions will be accepted FOR ANY REASON. If you would like to enter a revised version of your screenplay, you may do so as a new entry.

Q: Can I make changes to my genre or logline?
A: Yes, you may change your listed genre or logline at any time; simply e-mail us at info@tablereadmyscreenplay.com and let us know about the change. Once the contest is closed, we will not be able to make any changes.

Q: What stops you from taking my idea and developing it yourself?
A: Our panel of judges is comprised of respected industry professionals, and they have no intention of stealing your material. If you make it to the Semi-Finalist round, your work will be seen by these professionals, which in turn, gets you one step closer to getting your screenplay produced. You can sit at home and protect your ideas all day long hoping for that one right person to come along, or you can get your work out there and show us what you’ve got!

SHORTS AND WEB SERIES

Q: Do you accept Web Series?
A: Yes, Web Series will be considered for the Shorts Prize and should be entered as such. However, we will only consider the “Pilot” episode of your Web Series.

Q: What about series intended for streaming (Netflix, Hulu, ABC Digital, etc.)
A: Generally-speaking it depends on script length; any Pilot over 20 Pages should be entered as a TV Pilot (like Stranger Things, Catastrophe, etc). Series with shorter episodes like Forever 31 and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot should be entered as Shorts.

Q: Be honest: can TV Pilots actually win the Grand Prize?
A. Yes, Features and Pilots compete for the same prize, and we judge each on its own merits within its medium; TV Pilots have won in the past.

Q: What’s the minimum/maximum required page length?
A: Guidelines for suggested page lengths:

Features: 70 to 120 Pages
TV Pilots: 20 to 70 Pages
Shorts: 1 to 40 Pages
Web Series: 1 to 20 Pages

Q: My Feature script is over 120 Pages. Will I be disqualified?
A: Scripts that run over suggested page lengths will not be disqualified; however, extra pages can affect everything from pacing to structure to marketability, so we would advise you to get your script as close as possible to where the industry expects it to be.

Q: Will I be charged more if I go over 120 pages?
A: The entry fee does not change. However, if you purchase feedback, we will need to invoice you $1 per page above 120 for the Reader, who will receive every cent of the additional fee.

Q: Can I enter two scripts in one document?
A: You may enter up to four scripts per entry, but all scripts MUST be in their own individual PDF document.

Q: Can I submit an episode from my series besides the Pilot for consideration?
A: We would advise against this, as our judges consider all TV episodes as if they are the first in the series. No one would read a film script that starts on page 20.

Q: Does the choice of genre matter in my submission?
A: Yes, but only to determine what your goal is for your work; ie, if you submit your script as a Comedy, we would expect it to be funny. All genres are in competition with one another, and there are no genre-specific prizes.

Q: The genre of my script is not an available choice; how should I enter?
A: You should choose the genre that is most closely associated with your script – if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail us at info@tablereadmyscreenplay.com. That said, we will not consider scripts for documentary, erotica, reality TV or musicals.

Q: Can I submit my screenplay in multiple genres?
A: Yes, you can; however, you will have to pay an entry fee each time as if they were separate scripts. That said, we do not require you to enter any script more than one time. Genre suggestions are simply for guidance.

Q: Can multiple scripts from one writer place in the Top 100 Semifinalists list?
A. Yes, some writers may have more than one script reach the Top 100. Table Read My Screenplay is interested in promoting scripts as well as writers, and as such we choose the Top 100 scripts that we receive to move on to the Semifinals.

Q: Are Shorts part of the Top 100 Semifinalists list?
A: Shorts and Web Series Pilots will be featured onto their own Top 25 Semifinalists list. For all contests prior to 2018, Features, TV Pilots, and Shorts are all featured on the same list.

TRAVEL QUESTIONS

Q: I don’t live in the United States—am I still eligible?
A: Yes, we accept International entries, but all submissions must be in English.

Q: My country currently cannot do business with the US so I cannot pay; may I receive a waiver?
A: Unfortunately, at this time we cannot grant waivers.

Q: Will you pay for my flight even though I don’t live in the US?
A: Table Read My Screenplay will pay up to $1,500 for an international flight, and up to $800 for a domestic flight.

Q: If I choose not to fly or stay in your hotel, is there a cash equivalent?
A: No. If you decide not to utilize the flight or hotel, they are simply forfeited.

This contest is open to anyone except all employees, directors, associates, and immediate families of the TABLE READ MY SCREENPLAY Contest.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. It is our intention that all qualified submissions be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on script-related factors alone.
Promotional discounts offered may only be utilized at the time of submission and no partial refund for a promotional code may be issued after an entry has been officially submitted.
Promotional discounts or waivers offered may not apply on all submission platforms (i.e. ISA, Film Freeway).
Once material has been entered, no substitutions of new drafts or corrections will be considered past 24 hours from original submission time and date. After this time you may fill in an entry form and pay the appropriate entry fee to submit any script revisions or changes as many times as you like up until the deadline. You are free to email info@tablereadmyscreenplay.com with a revised logline or contact details at no additional charge.
Those that receive free feedback are not eligible to receive a free resubmission, which comes as an option with purchased feedback, unless otherwise noted in a promotion.
Eligible resubmissions will be honored in the succeeding contest.
Table Read My Screenplay cannot guarantee feedback will be received within enough time to resubmit within the same contest.
The writer understands that feedback can take up to 90 days turn-around time and may not be received before the end of the contest.
TRMS Feature or Pilot Grand Prize winners from previous seasons may only submit to a contest city outside of the city in which they won and may only submit with a new screenplay. Previous Short Grand Prize winners may enter any contest provided they enter a feature next. If a writer wins the Grand Prize in two cities they are ineligible to submit in any future contest season.
TRMS 2nd-10th Place Finalists may submit again with a completely different screenplay. Those who have placed as a top 10 (2nd-10th place overall) winner three times with three different screenplays in two different cities (3 in each city for a total of 6 placements) are ineligible to submit in any future contest season.
Adaptations from other works are permissible provided you have the writer’s written permission to adapt the work.
Adaptations of works in the public domain are permissible, however you are responsible for the legalities of this.
Collaborative work is eligible; the writers are responsible for the distribution of the contest prize(s).
Writers under the age of 18 years old must have parent or legal guardian’s permission to participate.
The work or submitted material must not be in a current option agreement, or may not have been previously sold or produced for profit.
Writer understands and accepts without reservation that he/she is an independent contractor and that the contest administrators are not responsible for withholding any taxes or payments on prize money to any government agency, at any level, be it state, local or federal.
Writer understands that it is his/her sole responsibility to register material with the U.S. Copyright Office and/or with the Writers Guild of America West or the appropriate agency in his/her country.
You must retain at least one copy of the submitted material, and you understand that all material we receive cannot and will not be returned under any circumstances.
Recommended length of your work:
Feature – (70 – 120 pages), TV Pilots – (10 – 60 pages), Shorts – (1-40 pages), Web Series – (1-20 pages)
If a screenplay is submitted for feedback and is over 120 pages, an additional fee of $1 per page will apply and the contestant will be contacted and billed separately for the extra, or only the first 120 pages will be read.
All entries must be received by Final Deadline. TRMS reserves the right to extend the contest deadline up to 90 days.
TRMS is not responsible for late, lost, unacceptably formatted, corrupt, or incorrect submissions.
Contestants may submit their screenplay to any other person, contest, producer, agent, publisher, and/or organization.
Contestants retain all rights to their screenplay, subject to the terms and agreements contained herein.
TRMS will only accept your submission if you assure us that to the best of your knowledge you are the sole originator of the idea and that you have the legal right to submit it for judging to TRMS.
You understand that your logline and / or screenplay will be reviewed by our employees and/or our panel of Industry Judges for evaluation. You also understand that any one of these employees or judges may have been or may be exploring ideas similar to yours and you hereby waive any claim that TRMS, its employees or judges may have misappropriated any ideas or portions of your submission logline or script.
No agreement for compensation, other than the TRMS prizes listed, has been implied.
If you win an ISAConnect membership, the membership will auto-renew after your free term if you do not cancel it and you will be billed the regular monthly fee.
TRMS intends to submit the Semi-Finalists to respected producers with your permission, which will be granted upon clicking the ‘I have Read and Understand the Contest Rules’ button. You can withdraw from this process at any time.
When your screenplay, application, and payment have all been received, you will be notified by email only. Please provide an appropriate email address. If your email address changes, it is your responsibility to let us know.
By entering this contest and in the event you / your screenplay is declared a Semi-Finalist, you understand and accept that TRMS will be free to use your name and likeness for advertising or promotional purposes without additional consideration.
If you are a GRAND PRIZE Winner, 2nd or 3rd Place overall winner (if applicable), you agree to give TRMS permission to post your video or audio Table Read on its web site.
All contest participants understand and agree with the following:
TRMS reserves the right to award a cash prize, at its discretion. A Grand Prize Winner is under no obligation to accept the associated prizes but will not be awarded or owed a cash replacement upon electing not to move forward with prizes offered. This includes local winners.
International flight not to exceed $1000. Domestic flight not to exceed $600. There is no cash reimbursement for flights that cost more than the limit nor will there be a disbursement of the difference for flights that are less than the $1500 / $800 limit.
TRMS may develop a series or documentary style program based on the inner workings of the contest and the production resulting there from. TRMS reserves the right to contact contestants with offers to participate in any such production. Contestants are under no obligation to participate therein.
Contest applicants must accept without reservation the decisions rendered by the judges.
There are no refunds for submissions at any time for any reason.
TRMS has the right to change or add to the prizes at any time, without notice, and/or substitute prizes of equal or lesser value.
TRMS is not affiliated directly with the Sundance Film Festival. Winner passes and access to the festival does not imply an association or additional access.